Translating the Narrative: an Approach to the Conceptual Design of a Contemporary Orthodox Christian Church by Anastasiya Burchevska A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master In Architecture Carleton University Ottawa, Ontario © 2016 Anastasiya Burchevska Abstract The conceptual design approach is meant to address the challenges faced by an architect when it comes to creating a contemporary Orthodox Christian church. The design would have to adapt to various urban, architectural and social conditions that significantly differ from those of the previous eras. This design approach establishes a framework that allows the integration of the various design aspects of such a complex architectural object as the Orthodox Christian church at the conceptual design stage. This thesis focuses on the creation of the architectural narrative or the information layer integrated in the building design as a method of communicating a theological concept in terms applicable to the current cultural and temporal context. ii Table of Contents Translating the Narrative: an Approach to the Conceptual Design of a Contemporary Orthodox Christian Church ................................................................................................. i Abstract ......................................................................................................................... ii Table of Contents ......................................................................................................... iii List of Illustrations .......................................................................................................... v Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 Issues and Challenges of the Contemporary Designing and Building of Churches ...... 3 The Symbolism of the Orthodox Christian Church ........................................................ 7 The Architectural Principles ....................................................................................... 9 The Architectural Design Components and Their Combinations ............................. 13 Pictorial Representations ......................................................................................... 14 General Guidelines for Design and Construction of Contemporary Orthodox Christian Churches ..................................................................................................................... 17 Functional Classification .......................................................................................... 17 Spatial Articulation ................................................................................................... 18 Capacity and Occupancy ......................................................................................... 18 Combination with Other Buildings of the Church Complex ...................................... 19 Accommodation to Urban Surroundings .................................................................. 19 The Climatic Conditions and the Requirements for Creating Favorable Sanitary Conditions ................................................................................................................ 20 National or Regional Traditions ................................................................................ 20 iii The Common Building Materials .............................................................................. 21 The Preferences of the Client (Church Community), the Designer and the Contractor ................................................................................................................ 21 Supplementary Design Considerations .................................................................... 22 Precedent – The Russian Cultural and Spiritual Center in Paris (2011) ...................... 23 Theoretical Considerations for Development of the Design Approach: Conceptual Design Elements and Limits of Experiment in Architecture ......................................... 31 Design Elements ...................................................................................................... 32 The Limits of an Experiment in Architecture ............................................................ 36 The Approach to the Conceptual Design of the Contemporary Orthodox Christian Church and its Applications ......................................................................................... 42 The Conceptual Design Approach Outline ............................................................... 42 Thesis Project Description ....................................................................................... 46 The Narrative and its Translation ............................................................................. 48 Description of the Spaces in the Church Complex................................................... 50 Architectural Narrative ............................................................................................. 50 Verbal Narrative as Part of the Design Process....................................................... 55 Narrative on the Urban Scale ................................................................................... 56 Postscript ..................................................................................................................... 80 Bibliography ................................................................................................................. 82 iv List of Illustrations Figure 1. Thesis project by Daniil Makarov (Orthodox Christian monastery complex) ...... 6 Figure 2. Symbolic meaning assigned to the spatial articulation of the church building . 15 Figure 3. Symbolism expressed through the combination of geometric shapes in the church building composition ............................................................................................ 16 Figure 4. Russian Cultural and Spiritual Center – project by Manuel Nunez-Yanovsky . 28 Figure 5. Russian Cultural and Spiritual Center – project by Jean-Michel Wilmotte ....... 28 Figure 6. Alexandre Nevski Cathedral, 12 Rue Daru, Paris ............................................ 29 Figure 7. Russian Cultural and Spiritual Center - competition entry by Mikhail Filipov ... 29 Figure 8. Russian Orthodox Christian Church in Paris - eco-architecture in church design ........................................................................................................................................ 30 Figure 9. Tree trunk incorporated in the church building - eco-architecture in church design .............................................................................................................................. 30 Figure 10. Bioscleave House (Lifespan Extending Villa). East Hampton, New York, 2000–2008 ...................................................................................................................... 39 Figure 11. Bioscleave House .......................................................................................... 39 Figure 12. Reversible Destiny Lofts. Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan Completed October 2005 ... 40 Figure 13. Reversible Destiny Lofts ................................................................................ 40 Figure 14. Site of Reversible Destiny. Yoro, Gifu Prefecture, Japan, 1993–1995 .......... 41 Figure 15. Reference project – Refectory Church in the Monastery of the Caves (Kiev Pechersk Lavra) in Kiev, Ukraine .................................................................................... 61 Figure 16. Architectural inspiration 1 – Igloo ................................................................... 62 Figure 17. Architectural Inspiration 2 – Longhouse ......................................................... 62 Figure 18. Geometric composition of the church spaces – narrative in form of the spatial articulation ....................................................................................................................... 63 v Figure 19. Proportional composition of the church building geometry (the golden mean) ........................................................................................................................................ 64 Figure 20. Site Plan (Scale 1:2000) ................................................................................ 65 Figure 21. North Elevation (Scale 1:500) ........................................................................ 66 Figure 22. East Elevation (Scale 1:500) .......................................................................... 67 Figure 23. North Elevation (Scale 1:500) ........................................................................ 68 Figure 24. West Elevation (Scale 1:500) ......................................................................... 69 Figure 25. Section (Scale 1:500) ..................................................................................... 70 Figure 26. Plan - Level 1 (Scale 1:500) ........................................................................... 71 Figure 27. Layout of the functional areas ........................................................................ 72 Figure 28. Processional paths (view of the belfry) .......................................................... 73 Figure 29. Arrangement of windows: random on outside, balanced and symmetrical on inside ..............................................................................................................................